The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 28: what you’re looking at

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28 THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. Vol. 1. No, $1 “ He is a devil! Perhaps he can jump out of his casket and dance a jig over his own grave.” ‘' Scarcelyg I think,” Sidney said, with a feeble smile, ‘Well, Savannah is a good-sized city but it is not New York; 5O I guess we will be able to track him,to whatever den he hid in. “T think so. See, in the first place, what became of Gregory Hamlin after the funeral.” ‘He was about the city for a time. more than once.” ‘““We must find out where the man was and there will be little trouble required to locate the master.” About ten days were consumed in the search, then the retreat at Spotswood was discovered. Old ‘‘ Carmel,” and African Ed were still in possession; Laf had died six months before. When the investigating party arrived, the old woman, who was more intelligent than her husband, received then, She was seated on the same bench where Jabez Lohn sat on the day be first saw Vivian. ‘“Good-day, auntie,’ said Tatnall, “I want to have a little talk with you about your master,” ‘* Ain't heard nuffin ’tall bout him lately,” said Carmel, look- ing rather uneasy. ‘‘ He owns this property, does he not?” I met him in the street ‘Yes, massa, I hope you ain’t gwan to turn us oufin’ de place. Tain’t wuth notin; white folks can’t libe init nohow. De ruff all done tumble in.” ‘* Don’t be frightened, auntie, we are not going to tnrn yon out,’’ said the Southerner, kindly. He sat down on the bench and signed to Sidney to follow his example. ‘We are only going to ask you a few questions about the sick gontloman who visited your master before he went North.” * Dat sick man, I ain’t got no use for he. He war de ‘casion ob ole massa gwan away.” ‘Ts that the case?” “Yes, tis. Ole massa was settled down here. Many de time Be tole me he meantter like and die here long side of me and fi de? «And this sick man persuaded him to leave, eh?” *« Yes; ole massa done picked up so—got so young ‘gain, guess he did’n feel like dyin’ no mo’.” ‘© Your old massa's health improved after he had the other man come to stay with him, then?” “So it did. Why, ole massa looked ten years younger. ber see sech a change in nobody.” Mr, Tatnall and Sidney exchanged glances full of meaning, The former had read a portion;of the record of the effects of the elixir, and recognized the writing ag Vivian’s, He possessed some samples of Vivian's chirography and they seemed identical with that of the record. The glance which passed between the two men said, ‘‘So he revealed the secret of the elixir to this man Lohn.” “Well, what other things took place which made you disap- prove of this stranger?” The old woman shuffled to and fro in the dust with her bare feet. “‘T didn like de ‘doption ob dem enllid chillun.”’ “The adoption of colored children?” repeated Mr. Tatnall, in astonishment. ‘Yes; de folks dey still keaps on a comin’ here to ‘quire ‘bout dem. I don’ know nnftin ‘bout dem." Again a meaning glance passed between the gentlemen. This time it was a glance of horror. © In each brain the sume glastly thought sprang into life, ‘Come, auntie, | am stupid to-day, and Ido not understand about this adopting of the children. Please explain it to me.” The woman hesitated. “Pll tell you all I know ’bout it,” she said, asif she had made up her mind at last. ‘‘ Ole massa he said he wanted to ‘dopt some chillun, and de folks dat had more chillun dan dey knowed what to do with dey was glad, ’cause folks said ole massa was pow’ful rich. Well, dey ’dopted four likely little chillun.” “Well, what of that? Did they not treat the children kindly?” ‘‘T dunno, massa. I’se monstrous uncertain in my min’ *pout dem chillun.”’ “Surely yousaw how they treated them if you liyed here.” ‘*No, did’n. Neber seen de chillun no mo’ after dey ’dopted dem.” ‘“Why, how was that?” “De chillun ain’t been here no mo’.” “Why, where were they?” “ ‘Ole massa, an’ de oder man, dey sey de sent de chillun orf.” ‘© Well, wasn’t that all right?” << T dunno; ’spect it am all right, only de chillun p’ants, dey Neb- ask ’bout dem chillun and no buddy eber dun seen chillun on uo boat nor no train eder.”’ “Oh, they may have gone fast enough. Maybe so, only I dunno. I’se onensy ’bout them chillun. Fack I is.” Mr. Tatnall was silent. children had been, The question was, did the old woman know more than she revealed. ‘‘ Have you heard from your master since he left?” «No, massa.” ‘«Did he say he would write?” ‘© He tole me he war coming back in six weeks,” ‘-What do you suppose detains him?” “T tink dut oder mun done make ’way wilh ole massa.” «The stranger?” **Yes, dat man had dat candy-colored ha’r, an’ I nebber like people wid eandy-colored ha'r,”’ ‘* His hair was blonde?” “Yes, jis like de beard ob de co’n.” ‘“How long was it after the stranger came before your master went North?” “**Bout five, six weeks.” “How did they amuse themselves during the stranger's visit?” “Reading books, an’ mixin’ all kins ob messes in de tiny little glasses. Neber see sich mussin since I was born.” ‘And they sent the children North, and you did not see them again?” ** Dey said so.” ‘Tt seems to me, auntie, that you have some doubt about it.” “TJ does’n want to get massa inter no kin’ ob trouble,” **Of course not. Suppose you tell me all you know, and I'll find out if the children are well and happy in the North. I must find out, too, if your master is alive and well. It seems strange that he should tell you he was going to return, and never do so.” The old woman shuffled her feet about inthe dust, She looked distressed and uncertain how to act. “<Come, auntie, I guess you know who [ am, and I would like to know what you think about those children.” «¢T knows you, massa.” «Well, let us have your story.” The old woman was sorely tried between anxiety to relate a startling story and her fear of injuring her master. Finally she said, ‘If any one done it, it was dat candy-ha’r'd man.” “T have no donbt of it. I dare say he has murdered your master and stolen all his money as well.” “Dar now! Dats whatI done tell Af’can Ed, my old man, I know all dem candy-ha’r’d people is bad and trec’rous, terrible trec’rous.”’ ‘©Well, auntie, what about the children?” Sidney’s patience had about given out. Tatnall, however, thoroughly understood the negro character. He knew how to extract information, in spite of reluctance on the part of his informant. -*Well, massa, you know my boy Laf-s-yette what die las’ fall?” “Certainly. Iknew him well. Fine smart boy he was.” Tatnall heard of Lafayette for the first time that moment, and put his foot in it when he extolled his smartness. Carmel’s sus- picions were rather aroused. “(Mnus’ be some oder Laf-a-yette dat you know’d if he was smart. My boy was mos'a fool.” ‘¢ When I said smart, auntie, I only meant he was a good willing boy. Very anxious to do right, and I always make it a rule to speak well of the dead.” Carmel felt that a reproof was conveyed by these words. The compliment to her dead son also pleased the mother’s heart. «Yon is right, massa; I ain’t doin’ right to call de pore dead boy a fool. Hows’eber, I'll tell my story, for de son am mos’ ready to sot. Well, on ‘count of Laf not being so smart as mos’ folks he was foreber lazin’, list’n’, and pokin’ ’roun’ oder folksos’ biz’ness. Dat uster make me an’ old Ed mad’n Injuns. So dat boy want on; "pears like we could’n break him ob dat trick no how. One day he cum to me and say: ««Mudder, what mak’ dat cryin’ noise in de ole lof’?’ **Conrse I k rect de boy. I tell him: ‘<<Go long, ye fool.’ «‘Did’n pay no ‘tention. ‘Well, he nebber fell me no mo’ till ole mars and de eandy- ha’r man gone Norf. Den one day I cotched him wid he pa’s spate, I say: ‘© «What ye doin’ wid dat spade?’ He surmised what the fate of the comicbooks.com